Rutgers two-sport athlete Jawuan Harris has been sidelined for the past two weeks as the result of an unspecified athletic department violation.
A scholarship wide receiver, Harris is currently a member of the baseball team. Harris appeared in the first 40 games of the season, including 39 starts, but the speedy outfielder has been out of the lineup since an April 24 game against Penn State.
“Jawuan Harris is still a part of our football team,” Rutgers football coach Chris Ash said. “He had a violation of athletic department policies that he is going through a suspension. He’s on the baseball team right now, so again, he had a violation of the athletic department policies.”
Ash said it was a two-week suspension. Harris is scheduled to return to action for the baseball team’s series at Maryland this weekend.
Playing mostly centerfield and batting fifth in the order, Harris has a .285 batting average with three home runs and 16 RBI this season. Despite the eight-game absence, his 30 stolen bases lead the Big Ten and rank eighth nationally.
A three-star football prospect in the 2015 recruiting class, Harris redshirted last fall. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Pembroke Pines, Fla., native has been with the baseball team full-time during the season, but he attended some football activities this spring when his schedule permitted.
Harris is stealing the show for baseball team
Harris is expected to be a full participant in the summer conditioning program for football, which begins on June 1. He will compete for playing time at wide receiver this season.
“From the little bit that I have seen about him, I’m really excited about what he can potentially do in our offense,” Ash said during spring practice.
Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
